Page 64 of I Want to Know What Love Is

“What the fuck? Am I that transparent?

“Yes,” they chorus at once.

“Fuck. Alright then. Here’s what I have in mind. Hear me out before you call me crazy.”

“You mean couyon?” Shelby asks. I give him the finger and dive in, telling them about my plan and what I need the to do.

“I like the idea.” Dooley claps his hands. “but then I’m a sucker for a tragic romance.”

“Of course you are.” Shelby lets out a nervous laugh and I can tell he’s unsure and worried as fuck.

“Don’t worry, we’ll show up late and hang at the bar,” Dooley says. “We’ll be discrete and no one will guess. I know exactly what to do. I’m an actor at heart. Follow my lead.”

“You discrete? I have to see that.” Trey looks at me. “I’m in.” He’s serious as fuck and I heave a sigh and turn to Shelby. I need him there with me. Mostly for moral support.

“You have to let him do this, Shel baby. It’s for a good cause,” Dooley says. “He won’t do it without you and it’s on my bucket list. Plus,” he pauses dramatically, “I’m the only one with enough flare to tell the story to our grandchildren.”

“Look,” Shelby says, aiming his face to the heavens. I’m surprised he doesn’t do the sign of the cross. “I guess if you’re going to go down in a shower of flames, you’re going to need someone there to sweep up the ashes of your sorry carcass.”

“He’s right about that,” Trey says.

“Great—then it’s a plan,” Dooley says. “All for one and one for all.” He throws in his hand between us and the others snort, but go along as if we’re the four musketeers—modern day reincarnation of the fictional trio.

“This isn’t fun and games, guys. I’m in this for my lady’s redemption.” There’s a quiver in my voice that reaches my gut. Because I wish I could redeem our relationship too, but I can’t afford to think about that, to expect anything between us to change. She’s still who she is, a goddess with a broken heart and a wall of sass, and I’m still a fucking student athlete six years her junior with nothing behind me but the heritage of a dickhead father and too many unknown possibilities in front of me. Unproven.

Trey nods. Shelby raises his eyebrows into his hairline again and Dooley grins like a loon.

“Okay. Just so you understand what’s at stake.”

“Nothing less than your big old heart,” Shelby says, sounding more resigned than happy.

“One rule.” I stare them all down and they wait for my pronouncement. “No drinking.”

“Shit man, that’s going to make hanging at the bar a little awkward, don’t you think?” Shel says. “Besides, we’ll be staying overnight and poor Dools isn’t in training for anything.”

I put my hands up. “I meant on the road trip. Once we’re there, have at it because it’s the one weekend you can get away with it.”

“What about you?” Trey says.

“I need to be sober as a judge to carry this off. And I want to remember every last fucking second and especially the look on Gary’s face when I stare him down.” While I have my arm around his ex and whisper in her ear like I own her, like I have a right to, like I’m going to spend the night with her. But I swore I’d stay in the moment where Amanda is concerned and take what I can get. What I need is for her to get her respect back, from everyone there and most importantly, her self-respect. I need her and everyone else to know that she deserves someone who will move heaven and earth for her, or at least go on wild escapades for her, take crazy risks for her, because she’s worth it. My heart pounds in protest because Shelby is right about the stakes. My heart could get killed. If she turns me away, I’ll need to be scraped off the floor.

We arrive on Long Island at The Estate at East Wind about a half hour outside of New York City. Once we get past the draw bridge because yes, there is a fucking moat, which sends Dooley into a frenzy of metaphorical commentary, we walk around back and join the crowd in time for cocktails. Amanda’s place card is missing from the board, so she’s here already. I check the other names and find her sister’s card still there and make note of the table. Number three. Shit. Right up in front and close to the action. Dools is behind me and Trey and Shel head for the bar. Their job is to have my back and make sure nothing goes wrong. And if it does, I’m counting on them to step in and do damage control and get us out of here before the police arrive.

“Do you see her?”

“Not yet.” Pasting on a killer smile to go with my slick James Bond tux and matching bow tie straight out of the costume department, I heave a breath and plunge forward.

Spotting Amanda, I swoop in and join her from behind where she stands in a group of people swarming around her and asking questions.

“Hello sweetheart,” I say, holding onto her shoulders, partly to keep her from doing anything rash, or from falling to the floor. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends? Hi, I’m Dylan… Bond. I’m with Amanda. Nice to meet you.” Winking, I reach a hand out to shake the hand of the nearest young lady as Amanda stares, her mouth open and silent.

I kiss her temple and whisper loud enough for the small surprised group to hear, “Surprise, I made it after all because I couldn’t stay away. I changed all my plans to be with you at this … special wedding.”

“Dylan I…”

“I know, don’t worry. I took care of everything. I had to bring my driver and bodyguard and of course my manager, but—”

“Your manager?” The cute young woman says.